The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-06-30
GRADUATION.

tastefully decorated and modestly wlthal.
A most commendabIe feature of the affair
was the absence of anything bordering
| upon display.
The class consisted of seven persons.
The essays of all were devoted largely to
description, reproduction of things read
rather than an exposition of the subjects.
| The class acted wisely in not attempting
the more difficult kind of composition as
| it involves mature reflection which comes
with years.
The salutatory was pronounced by
Matena Tollefson, a young lady who
completed the four-years course in three.
Her subject was "Carnivorous Plants"
! The subject was an interesting one for the
reason it is not hackneyed. The essayist
showed a pretty thorough knowledge of
the subject. She gathered much of her
material from personal observation In the
school aquarium and this fact lent inter
est to her discussion.
lisa S. Hanson took as her subject HUI
man Life Underground, comparing the
motives which led different people OF
antiquity to reside in caves and other
subterranean habitations. The anchored
retired from the light of day after the age
of the cave jewellers. In modern times
underground habitations are due to in
dustrial progress.
Slavery in the United States" was the
topic treated by Maggie Y. Kelley. 1t
was historical presentation of the sub
ject, considerable attention being given
to the New York Plot. The results of
slavery, the immediate as well as the
more remote, were briefly dwelt upon
| The introduction Of slavery, its gradual
abolition in the north and the growth of
sentiment in opposition to it We're points
| touched upon IN the essay.
Ed Kirwan prepared an essay on THE
Past and Present" The nature of the
subject of necessity made the subject
matter somewhat argumentative and the
writer gave evidence of ability to draw
conclusions from facts. The growth of
intelligence has banished many of the
superstitions of the past and law based
upon principles of right has supplanted
the despotic Will of rulers. improvements
in social relations, in industrial arts. the
many conveniences We enjoy and scientif-
ic discovery are the measure OF progress,
and show how far the present has out
stripped the past.
Carrie MendGk's essay was on THE In
dian Of the Past" His origin is shrouded
In mystery and his traditions shed no
light upon it. He was inherently cruel
and was ingenious in devising modes Of
torture. His cruelty led him to become
a pretty thorough anatomist. His rehg-
ious beliefs were briefly dwelt upon,
The Indian of To-day" was discussed
by Magda Magelssen. The efforts being
made to ciyilize him are greater now than
at any time in the past. A very impor-
| tant step in this direction was the act
passed by the last congress providing for
| the division of the reservations and the
| allotment of the lands to the Indians in
seyeralty. The bad character of many of
the agents who are Intermediates betwee-,
the government and Indians. h,as done
much to make the Indi%nn distrnstful-
The essayist gaze a somewhat detailed
description of the schools, and closed by
Expressing the hope that the Indians
would soon attain to civilized habits.
May Mahoney wrote on Different
Modes of Distribution of Seeds" The
essay showed thai the writer has a
thorough knowledge of the subject There
was a great deal of information on the
| subject compressed into brief compass,
| and many conclusions quite logically
| drawn from popularity of distribution.
| The valedictory was a very neat effort.
| The thought was pertinent and in no
sense extravagant, and was expressed in
a very artless and pleasing manner.
| Mr.. Smith addressed the class before
awarding the diplomas. He referred to
| the pleasant relations which existed be-
| tween him and the class and the very lit
tie trouble any member of it had caused
him. He admonished them to remember
| that purpose and not talent was what
| brought success. Three members of for
mer graduating classes of the school had
| distinguished themselves this year in
three of the leading educational institu-
| tons of the state The maxim "Knowl-
edge is power" should not be accepted
without qualification. Action guided by
knowledge is what is of value.
The singing of Mesdames Frazer, Plumb
and Fechter and the instrumental music
by Mrs. Smith and Mr.. Ostenfeldt gave
a pleasing variety to the exercises.
The graduating exercises are entitled to
praise in one direction particularly: They
fairly reflected the ability of the students
and were a fair index of the school. Or
dinarily, graduating exercises are beyond
the pupils taking part in them and are no
criterion by which the school or the work
done can be judged. Whether by Mr..
Smiths direction or the students own
good sense there was no attempt I,asi Fri
day at glamour. Eveo11y thing was natur-
al ana lus- on the schools level. Mr.
'oHhUh's address to the class was in ex-
cellent taste, brief to the point and wholly
Tree from the defamation common on
such occasions.
One word of criticism may not be out
of place, not for the pleasure of descant-
ing upon defects, but to suggest remedial
1 II
be heard by one-half the audience. In
distinctness cannot be overcome at
once when the occasion demands distinct
utterance and volume of voice, as was the
case last Friday. Had the members of
the class, during their school course, al